Both are using morality as a coping mechanism that innately harbors hidden contradiction. — Merkwurdichliebe
the nonbeliever does not believe in God, thus there is no internal source to compel his morality. The nonbeliever lacks the transfigured judge which is lurking over the shoulder of the believer at all times. — Merkwurdichliebe
I don't see the contradiction for the believer. Is it that he has created God in his own image? — frank
Both believer and nonbeliever have the same internal moral intuitions. Their justifications (after the fact) differ, merely. — praxis
Yes, the believer is more likely to believe that they are moral beings due to their affiliation with ultimate authority, but that is an unfortunate illusion because it stifles moral development — praxis
Believers must be kept dependent so the development of virtue is never seriously pursued. Sinners are forgiven, and in so doing kept dependent on a forgiver.
The development of virtue leads to independence. The nonbeliever may base their development on principles. — praxis
To be good, believers obey the rules of a religious formal system.
To be good, followers, supporters, citizens and patriots obey the rules of a civil/political formal system.
But it is also usual that one is ready to obey both kinds of a ruling system... to be on the safe side :)
By the way, a typical atheist sees that it is enough for him to obey one ruling system only — KerimF
To be good, believers obey the rules of a religious formal system. — KerimF
What we should learn from that is that religion doesn't arise from particular cultural circumstances. — Hippyhead
Religion dies when people live (well). The correlation is inverse, and healthy. — StreetlightX
Religion dies when people live (well). The correlation is inverse, and healthy.
— StreetlightX
What is the definition of religion, according to the article? I must have read way way way too fast — Merkwurdichliebe
Yeah, it doesn't give one, but I think it takes the self-reports of people who say they believe in God as counting for the religious. — StreetlightX
I must amend this to say: "believers obey [their conviction of] the rules of a religious formal system [which is generally, but not always, the source of their principles]. — Merkwurdichliebe
Those that think so have a lower income, less education, tend to the political right and are older than those who do not. — Banno
That's an odd thing to assume. Maybe he doesn't want to throw his pearls in the wrong direction. — frank
While this amateur armchair speculation is very cute, I will refer you to the article in the OP - on which this thread is about - which demonstrably shows otherwise. — StreetlightX
until we evolve in to something that we wouldn't recognize as human — Hippyhead
Religion arises from the inherently divisive nature of thought itself. — Hippyhead
Didn't read any of that, don't plan to. — StreetlightX
A good philosophy professor answers every question with another question, drawing the listener in to their own investigation. A not so good philosophy student demands to know what to memorize for the test. — Hippyhead
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